Returning to the glitz and glamour style of his Ocean’s films, director Steven Soderbergh is well and truly back on form with stripper comedy-drama Magic Mike.

Focusing on star of the pack Mike Lane (Tatum), an early 30-something making ends meet by taking off his clothes and doing odd-jobs alongside a yet-to-take-off furniture business, he takes wayward 19-year-old Adam (Pettyfer) under his wing, but it’s a responsibility much bigger than he first expected.

Falling for Adam’s sister, as quick money and a faster pace of life soon take a hold of his protégée, Mike must decide what’s really most important in his life, and when he wants to make the jump and say goodbye to the stripper pole.

Loosely based on Channing Tatum’s real life experiences working as a stripper around the age of 20, Magic Mike is a hugely triumphant surprise. Touching, heartfelt and utterly digestable, it’s so easy to invest In the characters that you’ll quickly be sucked into their plight, and rooting for Mike et al when everything seems to be going wrong.

While the final act is a little disappointing, after the Soderbergh’s last picture, Haywire, fell thoroughly flat, I’m delighted to report his work here is engaging and sensitive. Much more on this train of thought please.

FAN THE FIRE is a digital magazine about lifestyle and creative culture. Launching back in 2005 as a digital publication about Sony’s PSP handheld games console, we’ve grown and evolved now covering the arts and lifestyle, architecture, design and travel.